Charlotte\'sfather,whowasconfinedtothehousebyindisposition,wasaccustomedtosendhiscarriageforher,thatshemightmakeexcursionsintheneighbourhood.Onedaytheweatherhadbeenunusuallysevere,andthewholecountrywascoveredwithsnow.
WertherwentforCharlottethefollowingmorning,inorderthat,ifAlbertwereabsent,hemightconductherhome.
Thebeautifulweatherproducedbutlittleimpressiononhistroubledspirit.Aheavyweightlayuponhissoul,deepmelancholyhadtakenpossessionofhim,andhismindknewnochangesavefromonepainfulthoughttoanother.
Ashenowneverenjoyedinternalpeace,theconditionofhisfellowcreatureswastohimaperpetualsourceoftroubleanddistress.HebelievedhehaddisturbedthehappinessofAlbertandhiswife;and,whilsthecensuredhimselfstronglyforthis,hebegantoentertainasecretdisliketoAlbert.
Histhoughtswereoccasionallydirectedtothispoint.\"Yes,\"hewouldrepeattohimself,withill-concealeddissatisfaction,\"yes,thisis,afterall,theextentofthatconfiding,dear,tender,andsympatheticlove,thatcalmandeternalfidelity!